Owo Catholic church attack: Gov. Akeredolu, CDS Irabor, clear mix-up in suspect’s identity

Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu has cleared the air on a mix-up in the identity of a Kuje prison escapee, Idris Ojo, who was listed by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, as one of the arrested suspects involved in the terrorism attack carried out on the St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, back in June, this year .

The CDS, General Lucky Irabor, had during a media parley with journalists  listed one Idris Ojo among the fine suspects arrested in connection with the attack on the church in Owo, Ondo State.

Over 40 worshippers were killed in the attack which happened on June 5, 2022.

It emerged later that Ojo escaped from Kuje Prison when the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) attacked the facility exactly one month after the Owo attack.

However, Irabor was said to have listed the 32-year-old Ojo among those arrested over the Owo attack.

The development also follows another clarification, Wednesday, issued by the CDS, Gen. Irabor over his over his own earlier claims that five suspected were arrested in connection with the Owo attack.

While clarifying the issue in a statement Richard Olatunde, his spokesman, signed on his behalf, Akeredolu said the arrest of the escapee coincided with that of the church attackers, hence the mix-up.

“The attention of Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has been drawn to the announcement of Idris Ojo as one of the attackers of St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, arrested by the security agencies.

“Governor Akeredolu acknowledged the confusion the statement has created in the public space, considering that the ugly event of June 5 attack in Owo preceded the unfortunate incident on Kuje prison.

“The Governor said there was a mix up in the announcement by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor. Governor Akeredolu explained that Idris Ojo, who is number 14 on the wanted list of Kuje Prison escapees was arrested in his brother’s house in Akure.

“The announcement of the arrest of Idris Ojo as one of the perpetrators of the June 5 attack on St Francis Catholic Church, Owo was a mix up from the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor.

“Idris Ojo, who is number 14 on the wanted list of the Kuje Prison Escapees was arrested in his brother’s house in Akure. His brother, Jimoh Rasheed Ibrahim, received and accommodated him after his escape from Kuje prison.

“He was thereafter moved and kept in the custody of the security operatives at the same time the attackers of Owo Catholic Church were arrested and brought into custody. Hence, the mix up,” the statement read.

According to the CDS, the terrorists behind the Owo Catholic Church attack included; Momoh Ojo Abubakar, Aliyu Yusuf Itokpka, Auwal Ishaq Onimisi, Idris Ojo, and Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza.

The military added that Omeiza is one of the masterminds of the deadly attack.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, while peaking at a parley with media executives at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, said that the terrorists were captured at different locations across the country.

He said that the suspects, majority of who were arrested in various communities in Kogi, would be paraded before the public in due course.

“We had wanted to present the suspects to the public immediately but couldn’t because certain investigations are still being carried out,” he said.

Defence Headquarters in reaction to the controversies raised by the identity of the Islamic State of West Africa (ISWAP) terrorist arrested over the June 5 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church Owo in Ondo state, said Idris Ojo was not among them as earlier reported in some quarters, explaining the 32-year-old was one of the arrested suspected ISWAP terrorists who escaped from Kuje prison in FCT.

Director, Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Jimmy Akpor, said the CDS was misquoted.

In a statement released on Wednesday, August 10, Akpor said that Irabor had confirmed the arrest of four suspects through the collaborative efforts of the military and DSS personnel at Eika, in Okehi Local Government Area, Kogi on Monday, August 1.

The arrested four include; Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (aka Bin Malik),Momoh Otohu Abubakar, Aliyu Yusuf Itopa, and Auwal Ishaq Onimisi.

According to the Defence Chief, preliminary investigation revealed that Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza was the mastermind of the terror attack on the Owo Catholic Church.

Omeiza was also said to be the brain behind the “attack on a Police Station in Adavi Local Government Area, Kogi State on 23 June 2022, during which a policeman was killed and weapons carted away.”

Akpor said Irabor also mentioned the arrest of another terrorist, Idris Ojo, aged 32, who was apprehended at Ayetoro Osi, Ondo state through the combined effort of military and DSS personnel on August 7.

“Idris Ojo, the CDS said, was one of the suspected ISWAP terrorists who escaped from the Kuje Medium Correctional Centre on 5th July 2022.

“The CDS also mentioned that Ojo was arrested alongside Jimoh Ibrahim, 39 years, a sympathizer of the terrorist group, who accommodated him.

“The CDS further revealed that, the arrest of Idris Ojo was crucial as he, along with others, were already planning terrorists’ attacks against some selected targets, in order to create fear amongst the citizenry aimed at discrediting the government,” the statement read.